To ask you to listen to Gilbert O'Sullivan "Clair"

[Nottherealslimshady]

This is legit a paedophilia love song from a man to a three year old child, taking about marriage, strange feeling, and being in bed... it was number one in 1972? Just feel you should know... I'm totally freaked out. Am I wrong?

Ah c'mon. It's the child that's talking about marriage!

It's a bit twee, but based on an actual child (of his friends) that he baby sat.

Massive over-thinking there.

I think you can read into this song paedophilia if you want, but having heard him talk about the song and the child I would be very surprised indeed. Many many songs have lyrics that can sound very very dodgy. Doesnt mean they were. Since the 70s many men have become quite terrified about being thought inappropriate. It wasnt so before that. You might argue more paedophilia went on undetected, I dont know. I did see perfectly normal men avoiding perfectly normal affection sometimes

Yes you are wrong.

Don't be daft!

I read it that it's a dad to his daughter? I used to ask my dad to marry me when I was little. Nothing sexual in it.

Yabvu.

It was his manager's daughter. I imagine GOS was like an older brother at the time. Nothing to see here.

It's about a little girl he was babysitting. You are totally and utterly wrong.

It's the child that's suggesting marriage, not GOS.

It's about a friend's child, who he used to babysit. It's written in affection for her. I don't think there's anything dodgy about it.

yabu ffs why do people try to re write history

yabu ffs why do people try to re write history

This

Go listen to P.T.A by Pulp, OP .... you’ll meltdown

Clair was his manager's [Gordon Mills] daughter and Raymond [real name] used to babysit for her. All perfectly innocent!!!

Omg PTA!! 😮😮😮

She was the child of very dear friends and he was fond of her. The marriage line came from Clair in the song:

"Nothing means more to me than hearing you say
I'm going to marry you, will you marry me, Uncle Ray?"

It's a very sentimental song but there's nothing sinister about it. Clare and its variants was a hugely popular name in the 70s - there were always at least two in my class at school - so it probably appealed to people with a young Clare in the family - in fact I can remember hearing the dad of a Clare friend singing it to his daughter when I was about 5.

What a mad thread!

Love this as it reminds me of my lovely sister Clare who died four years ago. Can't listen to it without blubbing

It is possible for a man to feel affection for a child that is not sexual.

Mad op I mean, that ship has sailed

Sorry that you lost your lovely sister Willow 💐💐

Can I also remind the OP that Gilbert O'Sullivan is still alive and well and her allegations are almost certainly libellous?

The lyrics are fucking weird, there is no denying it when you see them written down. I'd never heard of it before but I wouldn't feel comfortable listening to that.

Don't be ridiculous op

Good point about seeing the lyrics written down .

The moment I met you, I swear.
I felt as if something, somewhere,
Had happened to me, which I couldn't see.
And then, the moment I met you, again.
I knew in my heart that we were friends.
It had to be so, it couldn't be no.
But try as hard as I might do, I don't know why.
You get to me in a way I can't describe.
Words mean so little when you look up and smile.
I don't care what people say, to me you're more than a child.
Oh Clair. Clair ...
Clair
If ever a moment so rare
Was captured for all to compare.
That moment is you in all that you do.
But why in spite of our age difference do I cry.
Each time I leave you I feel I could die.

You can't deny that some of them are iffy, and definitely not something that a parent/babysitter/close family friend would actually say to/about a child.

Back in the 60s/70s there were grown men in their 30s or older singing songs about 16 year olds. I find that far dodgier than Clair tbh.